News

Friday, Sept. 19, 2008

Whitestone Times

FLUSHING — A Jamaica woman and a Queens Village man were arrested after they attacked and robbed a man as he stood under a tree during a rainstorm in Flushing, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Comment

Whitestone Times

COLLEGE POINT — A 20-year-old Jackson Heights man was arrested after he crashed his car into a College Point home and fled the scene in early September, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Comment

Whitestone Times

Fresh Meadows residents said they were deeply concerned about a contaminated Horace Harding Expressway site where plans are in the works to develop two hotels and new homes after state investigators recently began testing for toxic substances in the air and water. Comment

Whitestone Times

After a divisive state Assembly race, Grace Meng said she expects Democratic leaders in Flushing to move forward as a unified front following her upset of incumbent Assemblywoman Ellen Young (D-Flushing) in the Democratic primary last week. Comment

Whitestone Times

The building that houses Engine Company 273 and Ladder Company 129 on Union Street in Flushing may be approaching its centennial anniversary, but City Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing) took a major step last week to make sure it does not look its age. Comment

Whitestone Times

The Long Island Rail Road has estimated that a project to install gates at a Little Neck railroad crossing where residents have been plagued by blaring horns will cost more than $1.4 million, the agency said. Comment

Whitestone Times

Throughout his career, Rabbi Michael Weisser has intellectually prospered by studying religious faiths while traveling the globe. Now he may be able to do it while walking around the block from his new synagogue. Comment

Whitestone Times

Few will ever achieve the level of talent and expertise possessed by violin-virtuoso Christopher Wang. For the former Flushing resident, however, that is by no means an invitation to slow down. Comment

Whitestone Times

A Bayside community activist who said he believes the city Parks Department is maintaining the historic Martin's Field African-American burial ground in Flushing as a park and not a cemetery slammed the city's upkeep of the site. Comment

Astoria Times

ELMHURST — An 18-year-old Corona man was arrested after he attacked a teenager and stole his iPod earlier this month at the Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Comment

Astoria Times

LONG ISLAND CITY — A 40-year-old Long Island man was arrested last month after he allegedly stole cans of Red Bull energy drink from a supermarket in Long Island City, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Comment

Astoria Times

LONG ISLAND CITY — A 24-year-old Long Island City woman was arrested earlier this month after she threatened to throw lye in the face of another woman who was walking toward her apartment building, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Comment

Letters

Your columnist Bob Harris is right in questioning the fairness to Willets Point businesses in the city's threat to use eminent domain to take their private property and turn it over to a real estate developer ("Eminent domain unfair to Willets Point businesses," TimesLedger, Sept. 4). The use of eminent domain involves serious and lasting negative implications for the people of Willets Point and this city's residents. Comment

Letters

Your Sept. 4 editorial, "Less is Less," regarding the reduction in teacher parking placards was on target. Most teachers work in schools in neighborhoods not easily accessible to mass transit commutes. Many teachers arrive early and leave late, often at night, when walking alone might be dangerous. As a result, they depend on the placards. Comment

Editorial

The criminal case against Queens state Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio on bribe-taking charges, coming as it does less than a year after the conviction of former Flushing Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin on similar charges, casts a dark cloud over the entire state Legislature. Comment

Astoria Times

There seems to be a new political equation developing based on the addition of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to the Republican Party national ticket. It has seemed to energize the GOP in terms of increasing its chances of winning the presidency and vice presidency and improving its chances at the local level. Comment

Astoria Times

Primary Day has come and gone. In Queens, there were only three primaries. In southeast Queens, the 10th State Senate District contest was between incumbent state Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica) and challenger former City Councilman Allan Jennings. Comment

Astoria Times

After those cranes fell in Manhattan due to undiscovered safety problems, the then-city Department of Buildings commissioner was fired or had to leave and the first deputy commissioner, Robert LiMandri, was made acting DOB commissioner. Commissioners come and go as do inspectors. Comment

Astoria Times

During my networking travels through Queens, I listen and learn about different areas of business and finance, which I pass on in my column. This week, I am going to talk about having an emergency fund. Comment

Astoria Times

Most Baysiders probably will not know the meaning of the name "Avli," but the Greek restaurant at 38-31 Bell Blvd. is currently in the process of living up to its definition: "backyard garden." Comment

Astoria Times

More than 150 volunteers hammered and drilled Saturday as they put together a new playground featuring four new pieces of equipment within a period of eight hours at an early childhood center in Howard Beach. Comment

Astoria Times

April 2000: Seminerio sets up Marc Consulting, a sham consulting firm, through which he took more than $500,000 from clients, including $310,000 from a hospital. (Source: criminal complaint from U.S. attorney in Southern District of Manhattan) Comment

Astoria Times

The sentencing of former Queens legislator Brian McLaughlin was delayed indefinitely Friday, one day after sources identified him as the cooperating witness cited in the federal government's criminal case against state Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio (D-Richmond Hill). Comment

Astoria Times

Disgraced former state Assemblyman Brian McLauglin was an FBI informant in the federal government's case contending that Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio's (D-Richmond Hill) took bribes from those seeking the legislator's influence in Albany, sources familiar with the investigation said Friday. Comment

Astoria Times

A former Jackson Heights man who fled to England following the beating death of a 35-year-old gay Jackson Heights man in 2001 was convicted of murder last Thursday, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Comment

Astoria Times

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly took the time to get to know the city's Muslim community better Friday by visiting Queens' largest mosque and taking part in the feast that marks the religion's holiest days. Comment

Astoria Times

Astoria Times

Marines and elected officials gathered at Woodside's Calvary Cemetery last weekend to honor a Civil War hero from Manhattan by giving him a headstone after he had laid in an unmarked grave for more than a century. Comment

Astoria Times

Affordable housing advocates joined City Councilman Eric Gioia (D-Sunnyside) along Long Island City's waterfront last weekend to call for cheaper units in the neighborhood as the city awaits the end of an approval process before moving forward with a massive development project. Comment

Astoria Times

As work appeared to continue at a Dutch Kills construction site where the wall of an adjacent building collapsed two weeks ago, City Councilman Eric Gioia (D-Sunnyside) called on the city Department of Buildings to prevent developers from cutting corners as they race to finish jobs before the City Council potentially approves a rezoning after an Oct. 2 hearing. Comment

Astoria Times

The Queens Civic Congress' general membership said it wants voters, not the City Council, to decide whether term limits should be overturned during its monthly meeting Monday at the Queens County Farm Museum in Floral Park. Comment

Astoria Times

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services told 18 homeowners on the Beach 84th Street pier in Far Rockaway that a public hearing and other steps would be taken before the city transfers ownership of the pier to them, state Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Rockaway Beach) said Friday. Comment

Astoria Times

The city will soon construct new bicycle shelters in Astoria and Jamaica in an attempt to cut down on borough traffic and pollution, a spokesman for the city's Department of Transportation said. Comment

Astoria Times

The head investigator into the murder of Daniel Malakov testified Friday that even though he did not initially suspect the Forest Hills orthodontist's estranged wife as having a role in the shooting, she pleaded her innocence just hours after his death. Comment

Astoria Times

Soldiers from the 27th Finance Battalion were given a send-off by their families Sunday at a Whitestone American Legion Hall as they prepared to be shipped off to Kuwait, where they will conduct financial support operations for the Iraq war. Comment

Astoria Times

Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) introduced a bill in the City Council last Thursday that would require a voter referendum to take place before a bill abolishing or altering term limits could be passed by the legislative body. Comment

Astoria Times

Waves of shock and disbelief made their way throughout the borough's political establishment after state Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio (D-Richmond Hill) was arrested last week on federal corruption charges. Comment

Whitestone Times

The city's Parks Department said it is seeking a replacement for Bayside's Caffé on the Green when the popular catering hall's license expires in January. But the owner of the concession, accused of shoddy recordkeeping in an audit earlier this year, said he still plans to either remain at the site or move into another neighborhood locale next year. Comment

Whitestone Times

Grace Meng soundly defeated state Assemblywoman Ellen Young (D-Flushing) in the Democratic primary Tuesday, an upset that put her within reach of the Flushing seat her father was elected to just four years ago. Comment

Whitestone Times

Some Bayside residents said they were concerned that the city could remove a footbridge near the neighborhood's Long Island Rail Road station that has been in the community for nearly 100 years. Comment

Whitestone Times

Athy, who previously taught English at Jamaica's Hillcrest High School, became Bayside High School's 14th principal this fall following the recent retirement of Judith Tarlo, who presided over the school's 3,900 students for seven years. Comment

Whitestone Times

The city Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that new safety measures for senior citizen pedestrians have been installed in Flushing as part of a pilot program being introduced citywide. Comment

Whitestone Times

More than 20 residents of Fairmont Hall in Flushing, still reeling from an explosion that tore through the building in July, have hired a lawyer to explore legal action against the building's owners in the coming weeks after spending nearly three months without gas service. Comment

Whitestone Times

Community Board 11 voted down a proposal this week to allow a Bayside company that specializes in fire extinguishing products to develop a one-story warehouse with storage space for commercial vehicles at its site on 215th Place. Comment

Editorial

Congratulations to the 21 Queens City Council members who authored a bill that purports to solve a problem that almost no one knows exists and fewer care about. The new law, Introductory Number 264-A, requires commercial establishments to keep their doors closed when operating air conditioning systems. Comment

Astoria Times

LONG ISLAND CITY — A Long Island City woman faces criminal charges after allegedly trying to hire men to break her husband's nose and severely beat him, the Queens district attorney's office said. Comment

Crime

FLUSHING — An Elmhurst teenager has been charged with making phony bomb threats to the Arthur Ashe Stadium during the US Open tennis championship Sept. 2, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Comment

Letters

City Council Finance Committee Chairman and 2009 city comptroller candidate David Weprin (D-Hollis) made headlines with a proposed piece of Council legislation. His latest idea is a bill banning texting while driving. He believes this regulation is worthwhile, even if it saves one life. Comment

Editorial

By all accounts, Nicholas Nowillo was the kind of neighbor everyone wants to have. He was the first to show up at community events and never hesitated to volunteer. In the end, it was that willingness to help that led to his untimely death last week. Comment

Astoria Times

A coalition of Willets Point businesses released a video last week blasting Community Board 7's approval of the city's plan to redevelop the northern Queens industrial enclave, contending the group's vote should be overturned and accusing its leaders of influencing the decision. Comment

Astoria Times

The threat of Tropical Storm Hanna hastened the proceedings at St. Michael's Cemetery in East Elmhurst Saturday during its annual ceremony memorializing the emergency responders who died in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Comment

Astoria Times

State Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Whitestone) was victorious in Tuesday Democratic primary, fending off a surprisingly strong showing by her low-profile competitor Robert Schwartz, according to unofficial results from the state Board of Elections. Comment

Astoria Times

Long Island City gathered to say goodbye Sunday to a beloved longtime resident who was slain outside his home as he helped a frightened neighbor and confronted a homeless veteran later charged by police with his murder. Comment

Astoria Times

Just hours before police arrested 43-year-old homeless veteran Eric Cherry in the beating death of a Long Island City activist 15 blocks away, the Department of Homeless Services raided his former shelter mates at the Borden Avenue Veterans Residence. Comments (2)

An Elmhurst teenager involved in a series of robberies in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in 2006 that left one man dead and another in a coma pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder and attempted murder, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Comment

Astoria Times

In a decade that included the World Trade Center attacks and the crash of the dot-com computer industry, the city nevertheless gained a quarter of a million new jobs, with Queens taking a leading role. Comment

Astoria Times

State Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) disputed a claim by his opponent, City Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows), that he flip-flopped his position on drilling for natural gas upstate near the city's watershed. Comment

Astoria Times

The Ridgewood man accused of murdering a Pace University student in his Chelsea apartment last month almost walked out the door with a few stolen items before turning around and strangling the young man, prosecutors said. Comment

Astoria Times

The debut of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's long-promised super-express buses to Queens may be years off, but Bronx straphangers have been flocking to the new pay-before-boarding buses in their first week of operation. Comment

Astoria Times

Former state Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin is expected to be sentenced to at least eight years in prison Friday after pleading guilty to federal racketeering and fraud charges earlier this year. Comment

Astoria Times

A Corona man who was a high school student when he killed a Lefrak City electrician four years ago was sentenced last week to 18 years to life in prison, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Comment

Astoria Times

Two John F. Kennedy International Airport baggage handlers are facing robbery charges after they allegedly tried to steal more than a quarter of a million dollars in diamonds that were bound for the West Coast, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Comment

Astoria Times

The state is losing $1 million a day in revenue for every day it stalls on choosing a vendor for video lottery terminals at Aqueduct Race Track, state Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Glendale) and state Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Rockaway Beach) told Community Board 10 last week. Comment

Astoria Times

An environmental watchdog group and City Councilman Eric Gioia (D-Sunnyside) announced last week that they will seek legal action against a major concrete manufacturer on Newtown Creek for violations of federal environmental laws. Comment

Astoria Times

A Howard Beach woman has been accused of manipulating her 401K retirement savings plan to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the electrical firm where she worked, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Comment

Astoria Times

Eight Torah scrolls will be returned to the Kew Gardens Hills Jewish Center in time for the High Holy Days later this month following the arrest of a custodian and another man, who police have accused of snatching the $500,000 religious artifacts last month. Comment

Astoria Times

Some Queens educators and lawmakers tentatively agreed Friday with findings of a new report calling for Mayor Michael Bloomberg to retain control over city schools, but state Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) said the 2002 law should be amended to provide "more available access by parents to their local school districts." Comment

Astoria Times

City Councilman Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) called on city and state environmental agencies Monday to find out why thousands of dead fish have been washing up on the shores of Shellbank Basin. Comment